Clear Creek calendar excludes religious days

Published 6:30 am, Thursday, February 28, 2002

Clear Creek school trustees on Tuesday night approved a version of next year's school calendar that does not include proposed holidays for Jewish and Islamic religious observations.

An alternative plan considered by the district's calendar committee had included holidays for the Jewish observation of Passover in April and the Islam observation of Eid al-Adha in February.

"Some of our patrons of the Islam faith had requested that day," said Kay Lee Benoit, a committee member.

Passover marks the deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt. Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, celebrates the sacrifices of the prophet Abraham. Neither holiday was included in Clear Creek's current calendar.

The 2002-03 calendar approved by the board retains five days of vacation during the week of Thanksgiving. Benoit said the Islamic and Jewish holidays could have been included only if those days were cut from Thanksgiving week, which she said is a popular break for families planning out-of-town trips.

Benoit said the final calendar adopted by the board was the version recommended by the committee. It received "overwhelming" support from district teachers and staff, she said.

Three calendar versions were proposed, and district staff members, teachers and some student council members were allowed to voice their preferences though an online vote. Community members were invited to state their preference by mail, Benoit said.

The calendar that trustees approved received 1,287 votes while the version that included the Jewish and Islamic holidays received 108 votes.

The calendar includes a start date of Aug. 19, just two days earlier than last year. However, the date has prompted questions from the public.

"A lot of people have asked why we're starting so late, but the new law says that school may not begin until the week of the 21st," Benoit said.

Benoit also said the committee managed to schedule the fall semester so that it ends before the winter break, allowing high school students to finish final exams before the Christmas holiday.

Responding to trustee Ralph Parr's query as to why the calendar did not include built-in storm or ice make-up days, Benoit said those days would be taken from existing holidays as needed.